Monthly Archives: November 2010

John 1:1-51 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

For those who say that Jesus Christ was only a man, a prophet, a teacher, or another way to salvation you have to bypass what the Bible says about who Jesus is.

In the first verse of the Gospel of John, Jesus is declared as the Word of God, He was with God and is God. In the original Greek, the word God refers to the Godhead, trinity: God the Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit.

What difference does that make to me in my daily life, in my everyday world? Shouldn’t I know what the Bible says for myself, and not merely listen to other people’s thoughts and opinions? After all, I’m the one who will have to give an account before God when I die.

I wonder if sometimes I fail to read God’s word because I know that God will confront me in my sin. When I’m confronted, then I have a choice. A choice to obey, repent and turn and do what God commands or choose to go my own way and suffer the consequence of sin and disobedience. In my foolishness I may think that I can plead ignorance.

It’s so easy to see the “big sins” like murder and adultery as wrong. Even unbelievers know those things are wrong. But unless I know God’s word, unless I am washed by the word daily…I will get lazy or willfully choose to sin and walk my own way and sin will creep in.

Exodus 20:1-20 1 And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 8 “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. 12 “ Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

May I let the Light of God’s Word shine in the dark corners of my life and expose sin. Through the power of the Holy Spirit may I comprehend what God says in the Bible. May I choose to live in light of eternity and the certainty that one day I will have to give an account before Holy God. May my sins, though as scarlet, be cleansed white as snow by the precious blood of the Lamb.

Like this:

For the comfort of Your Presence The gift of Your SonYour Holy Spirit within

For the Bible where truth residesThe gifts of prayer and praiseFreedom to worship with Your saints

For the gift of salvationAmazing grace which You lavished on meThrough Jesus Christ my Lord

Susan Bunts WachtelNovember 19, 2010

I am grateful for so many things this Thanksgiving Day 2010. First and foremost I am thankful for my God and Savior Jesus Christ, the gift of salvation and God’s grace lavished on me through His marvelous incomprehensible plan. I’m grateful that God has sealed me with the Holy Spirit of promise.

I am grateful to live in a country where I am able to exercise my freedom to read the Bible, worship with the saints, share the Gospel message and pray.

I’m thankful to God for His provisions to my husband Chris and me…for family and friends, good health, a home, jobs, our beloved pets and so much more.

This year it seems more imperative that I give thanks to God for His abundant blessings. I’m mindful that it’s not because I deserve anything. Rather than focusing on the gifts, may I focus on the Giver. While everything else may fade away or be taken…my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can never be taken. I am firmly held in the grasp of His hand.

What about you? What are you giving thanks for this Thanksgiving Day and to Whom?

Like this:

Thank you David from Pilgrim Scribblings for sharing this wonderful worship by the Opera Company of Philadelphia performing the Hallelujah Chorus at Macy’s. My goodness…it is spectacular and brought tears to my eyes. Praise His Holy Name!

After these things I hearda loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lordour God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Revelation 19:1-6

When I see the brokenness of people’s lives all around me…I marvel how they do it. Life is hard enough though I know God. Yet, I have strength, peace and assurance that comes through having Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

How do people without Christ get through life? How did I do it for 32 years?

I thank you Lord that I don’t have to get through life without You. Keep me close Lord Jesus…right by Your side.